The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-23
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
The Annual Meeting and Election OF
Officers.

The annual meeting Of the Associated
Charities was held in Reception Hall at
o'clock yesterday afternoon and was well
presided. Mr.. Marks read his report, which
follows:
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
This meeting closes the eighth year of the
history of the Associated Charities. March
8, 1879, the first or. preliminary meeting was
held in the Mayors Office, Mayor Butler pre-
siding. Mr.. j. p. Baxter presented the
needs of such an organization, and how it
would aid and assist all the existing char
liable societies in their work, without in any
degree interfering with or superseding them.
Messrs. VIM. w. Thomas, w. s. Dana and
Jas. y. Baxter were appointed q committee
to draft constitution and bylaws, and re-
port at future meeting.
On the 10Th Of November of the same year
the committee reported draft of q constitu-
tien, which was adopted.
On the 2lst of January of the following
year the first board of officers was elected:
Mayor Walker, President; Messrs. ]. P.
Baxter, w. w. Thomas and Prentiss L0ring,
Vice Presidents; Mr.. Philip Turner, Secre-
tary, and 80 Managers representing the diff
ferent churches and various benevolent So
cletleS; arrangements also being made for
districting the city and selecting visitors.
1t was also deemed desirable that q state
lneht VI Tue AIMS anu ODJecIS OF Ine dSSocla-
tion should be prepared and published for
general information. Mr.. Baxter was re-
quested to prepare such statement, which
when published was largely the means Of
commencing the association to the confidence
and sympathy of the public.
During the following years Messrs. ]. p.
Baxter, Woodbury. S. Dana, Prentiss Loring
and lRev. DR.. Dalton have successiyely
served as presidents.
Mr.. Turner after one years service as
secretary resigned, being succeeded by Miss
Anna I'll. ID. Evans, who faithfully served
for five years, being succeeded by the pres
ent incumbent, for whose efficiency and
kindly, charitable spirit we will bear cheer
full testimony.
would recommend that during the COM
ing year the various districts be revised, and
such information as might be useful to the
visitors in their work be published In con-
nection Herewith, as the need of such sug-
gestions is greatly felt and the publications
of the Association for this purpose have
been for some time exhausted
For report of the work during the past
year and its special features and Importance
reference is made to the report of the
secretary
sEcRETARY's REPORT.
Mrs. NJ. j. Lilly, the secretary, in her re-
| port said that the work of the association
could not be represented by statistics, the
few figures given conveying little idea of the
results attained. Ninety-ive cases have been
| dealt with, nearly every one representing q
| family so that the number reached would be
| three or four times the number Of applicants
Many have been sent to the Association by
the 'Proyident Society and few by Other
| organizations, while many have been present
| ed directly to the Association. The las
| named class universally ask for work. Ii
most cases the plea is sincere.
| In few instances appeals have been made
as the result of idleness and vice. These ap
| peals have served good purpose in calling
attention to children who will probably b.
removed from their unwholesome surround
| ings eventually.
The Board of Visitors now numbers near
ly forty, and the secretary expresses he
deep obligation to them, an indebtedness
which should also be felt by the whole com
| munty.
The work room gains ground as its valu
becomes understood, but as yet it has no
been possible to increase the number OF it
employees above the thirty of previou
years. The quality of the work constantl
improves and over 1000 pieces will be offere,
at the sale early in May
The secretary, in her report, speaks of tn
pleasant relations between the Association
and the Portland Provident Society. the Sa
maritans, the Female Provident, the Die
Mission. the st. Vincent de Paul, Portland
Fraternity and the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union. A grand union meeting o
the charitable organizations of the city
recommended.
Street begging is virtually thing of tn
past.
secretary recommends systematic effort t
furnish employment to the unfortunate, a
ready established citizens. in all prope
mean to draw upon private charities and b,
to mprGye the II san sanitary cor
make some effectual effort to check drunl
enness; to increase the opportunity for MAJ
ual training for both sexes.
THE ADDRESSES AND ELECTION OF
OFFICERS.
Hon. Charles F. Libby was introduced an
delivered an exceedingly interesting and il
} structiye address, going into the history
the struggle of the English people with Il
onestion Of pauperism. How to deal just
by the two classes Of poor, the worthy an
unworthy, in such way as not to stimula